Matching number engines // does your car have it?

bossrobot

bossrobot

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Hey
I have been in the car hobby since I was a kid and have had every kind of old car from Cuda’s to Sunbeam Tigers.
Some makers put the VIN # on their engines…some only do it on the HP engines…many don’t do it at all.

I wonder if people want to respond here if you have your numbered “matching” engine??? So we can get an idea

I wonder how many do, because I never heard of it in these cars and historically no one really cared. Even the CSL car listings don’t mention it

Just curious …..respond if you want to
 
i do not have the matching number. the PO took it out and put an anemic USA b34 in it. that problem has been solved ... but almost nothing is original on my coupe except for the original sheet metal.
 
I have the matching number original engine for my car. I plan to restore it and keep it in case some future owner wants to go back there. I am replacing it with a 3.5 liter M90 with triple weber carbs. Engine appears to be from a 1979 E24.
 
Well, all e9s had the VIN stamped on the block, even the CSLs. Same with 2002, e3, e12 and early e24. At some point the stamping was another number entirely and I think began with the e28. As an example, a b34 or b35 block does not have a VIN stamp.
 
HB Chris said:
Well, all e9s had the VIN stamped on the block, even the CSLs. Same with 2002, e3, e12 and early e24. At some point the stamping was another number entirely and I think began with the e28. As an example, a b34 or b35 block does not have a VIN stamp.
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i was thinking the b34 + b35 had the last 7 digits of the vin as the engine number. they just got rid of all of the other info about the model - which plant, which car model, etc.
 
yes and all of the fenders + major body parts had VIN stickers on them too. i will have to go out and look at my euro b34 and see if it has a number on the block. or @sfdon can answer the question ... as i know, he knows
 
My 1970 2800cs has its matching numbers engine. Right now the concern is getting the body in good shape. An engine upgrade might come later. I'm not sure of the value of keeping an original engine around once a competent replacement has been installed. Except for a CSL, who would really want to go back?
 
My 3.0cs has a matching # engine. When contemplating a rebuild or replacement I decided to rebuild the original engine but with larger with piano-top pistons.

Replacement engines do not seem to negatively impact values in the coupes and upgraded transmissions are the same.

I have kept most of the original parts that I have removed in the unlikely event that a future owner will want them...
 
If I understand your question correctly, you are asking if having a numbers matching car is important to you? If that's the question, the answer for me is no. If there is an upgrade that will make my car perform better (bigger engine, 5 speed trans, etc), I'm all for it. Or are you asking a different question?
 
i think this will be worthwhile information to publish - what engines have what numbers (a new FAQ) ... to be tied with some basics about each engine. it makes sense to be around the start of the e28.
 
HB Chris said:
They have numbers but are not VINs, when it changed I do not know.
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On older factory cars, this often matched the final digits of the vehicle's VIN, while replacement or newer blocks use standard BMW 8-digit serialization.
 
I’ve never figured out what the eight digit number means
IMG_8899.jpeg
 
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